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Play 971: The UAE’s First Licensed Online Casino Goes Live

• UAE quietly licenses its first online casino operator, a major shift in a country that still bans gambling.
• Play 971 appears on the national regulator’s register, marking a tightly monitored entry into iGaming.
• This move aligns the UAE’s broader economic strategy and its growing ambitions in the Gulf gaming sector.

For years, players looking for trustworthy online casinos in the UAE had no choice but to use offshore sites. That changed this week. After a long period of speculation and behind-the-scenes regulatory preparation, the UAE has taken its first concrete step into locally licensed online gaming. Play 971 is now listed on the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) register, making it the country’s first licensed online casino and sportsbook operator.

This significance is hard to overstate. Gambling remains prohibited under federal law and remains culturally sensitive across the region. The UAE’s gradual, highly controlled approach to gaming reform is reflected in the quiet rollout of Play 971, characterized by small steps, firm oversight, and alignment with long-term economic planning.

We monitored the rollout, reviewed industry reports, and confirmed the licence with the GCGRA. Here’s what UAE players need to know.

Play 971 is operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, linked to The Game LLC, the company behind the national lottery. Both sit under the Momentum Group, now one of the most active entities in the country related to entertainment and gaming.

The platform quietly went live earlier this week in a limited rollout. Our testing showed access in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al-Khaimah, but not yet in Dubai. Industry sources say the staggered release is intentional, with a wider launch expected in Q1 2026 as supplier approvals and compliance steps continue.

What Games and Providers Does Play 971 Casino Use?

On the homepage, we spotted games from:

• OneTouch
• Hub88
• Live88
• Xpoint (geolocation)
• Sportradar (sports data)

Interestingly, we also found Evolution’s Speed Dragon Tiger in the live casino section, despite Evolution not appearing yet on the list of officially licensed suppliers.

For now, Play 971 focuses on a mix of slots, crash games, live dealers, and sports betting. As more suppliers get licensed, the catalogue will likely expand significantly.

“Finding Evolution’s games live before the supplier appears on the registry is a classic sign of a controlled field test. The regulator clearly wants to validate integrations quietly before opening Play 971 to a wider audience.”

Abby Richards

Expert in iGaming Across International Markets

Why This Matters for UAE Players

For the first time ever, UAE players have an online platform that’s:

• locally licensed
• regulated at the federal level
• linked to the same company running the official UAE Lottery
• operating within a controlled, legal framework

Compared to offshore casinos, which operate with no local oversight, this marks a major shift in how online gaming may look in the long term.

“But it’s important to keep expectations realistic: Play 971 is still in a limited rollout, and most UAE players will continue relying on offshore platforms for the time being. We’re tracking updates daily, and as soon as anything changes, we’ll update our guides.“

Abby Richards

Expert in iGaming Across International Markets

One License Per Emirate: A Controlled Market Model

Based on industry analyses and early regulatory drafts, the GCGRA is expected to adopt a structure that allows:

• one iGaming licence per emirate,
• with each operator allowed a limited number of sub-brands.

If implemented, the UAE could eventually host up to seven licensed operators, but only if every emirate opts in.

This controlled model places the UAE closer to Singapore’s tightly regulated casino system than the open-market approach seen in Malta or Curaçao.

What About TrueWin and Dream Island? Our Findings

Before Play 971 secured its federal licence, two Momentum-linked platforms, TrueWin and Dream Island were already operating within the UAE:

• TrueWin, offering casino games and sports betting, is operated by Momentum Group companies.
• Dream Island, active since 2020, will permanently close on 10 December 2025, now redirecting users to TrueWin.

Neither platform has ever appeared on the GCGRA licence register. Both existed in a regulatory grey zone, with access varying depending on region and ISP.

Play 971 is the first, and so far the only, Momentum-linked platform with a confirmed federal licence, clearly marking a shift from unregulated predecessors toward a compliant, monitored model.

Momentum Group: The Company Behind the UAE Lottery and Play 971 Casino

Momentum holds several roles across the UAE gaming ecosystem:

• operates the UAE Lottery (via The Game LLC)
• now operates Play 971 (via Coin Technology Projects LLC)
• previously supported Dream Island and TrueWin
• works in mobile gaming, VR, esports, and mixed-reality entertainment

The company has been expanding rapidly since winning the lottery licence in July 2024. Their job listing earlier this year for a commercial director of an online casino and sportsbook was the first clue that something larger was in development.

Now, with a federally regulated online casino live, their long-term strategy is becoming clear.

The UAE Is Moving Toward a Regulated Gaming Framework

The launch fits into a broader regulatory arc:

• In 2023, the UAE established the GCGRA to oversee lotteries, commercial gaming, and future land-based casinos.
• In 2024, Momentum’s UAE Lottery became the first legal gaming product in the region.
• Since then, supplier licences have been issued to Aristocrat, Light & Wonder, IGT, Konami, Sportradar, and others.
• Wynn’s US$5.1 billion integrated resort in Ras Al-Khaimah remains on track for a 2027 opening, expected to include the country’s first licensed land-based casino.

This is a clear, if gradual, move toward structured, modern gaming regulation.

Leadership Changes at the GCGRA

The timing is notable: Play 971 emerged just weeks after the GCGRA’s founding CEO Kevin Mullally stepped down. His tenure oversaw:

• the national lottery launch
• supplier licensing
• the establishment of the UAE’s regulatory framework
• approval of Wynn’s land-based casino

Chairman Jim Murren (formerly of MGM Resorts) is serving as interim CEO.

The regulator continues to operate normally despite the leadership shift.

What This Means for Players Right Now

Even with Play 971’s launch, offshore casinos still make up 99 percent of available options. That’s why our UAE recommendations remain focused on:

• trust
• payout speed
• VPN performance
• safety
• responsible gaming tools

Play 971’s rollout is promising, but it will take time before UAE players can rely on locally licensed operators.

We’ll keep monitoring the situation and update our pages the moment anything changes.

Verdict from Kryptocasinos.com

After checking the GCGRA register, speaking with industry contacts, and testing the platform across several emirates, one thing is obvious: Play 971 marks the UAE’s first real step into regulated online gaming. It’s cautious, tightly managed, and still in its early days, but it’s a clear shift from the offshore-only landscape that has defined the market for years.

For now, offshore casinos remain the main places UAE players actually use. Play 971 doesn’t change that yet, but it does show where the country is heading – slowly, and on its own terms.